by Lolita Lopez
“Um, speaking of dangerous things, what about me?”
Stig frowned. “You?”
“I’m human, Stig. Is that…is it a problem?”
He wanted to lie but couldn’t. He couldn’t keep any more secrets between them. “It might be.”
“Might be?”
“When I swore my oath to the Brotherhood, I also swore to stay away from human women. Other dragons have taken human brides but never the Brothers.”
“So we—”
“Are fine,” Stig said firmly. “We’ll figure it out, Cora.”
She looked like she wanted to argue with him but didn’t. On the way back to the table, she dragged her fingers across the basement door. “Without a claviger, you’re all alone, Stig. What if something goes wrong down there? You’d be stuck until morning.” Concern clouded her eyes. “Do you have some kind of backup plan when you’re in the chains?” She chewed her lower lip. “Maybe I could be your claviger.”
Stig’s heart soared at her suggestion but he let her down easily. “I’m touched you’d offer but I don’t think it’s the right job for you.”
“I just want you to be safe, Stig.”
“I am, Cora. Always. And anyway I have other ideas about a certain position you might be right for.”
“Oh?”
“Later,” he said, and kissed her forehead. “Come out to the workshop with me. I think you’ll enjoy it.”
“All right.”
Stig took her hand and led her outside. He gave her a tour of the shop and explained how the various saws, drills, and planes worked. She soaked up the information like a sponge. Her eyes lit up as she explored her creative side with a piece of scrap wood and a jigsaw. He left her to her own devices and picked up where he’d left off on his current project.
Cora appeared at his worktable some time later. He sensed she wanted to help and decided she could be trusted with the sanding and some of the more simple cuts. It had been so long since he’d shared his workspace with anyone. He found he enjoyed her company immensely. Teaching her various woodworking techniques and tricks proved to be even more fun. She approached learning with such gusto.
Hours passed as they worked side by side. It was a little before five when Cora glanced at his watch and exclaimed at the late hour. They discovered they were both starving, so they cleaned up their workspaces and headed back into the house. After a quick shared shower—and a little frisky play—they made their way to the kitchen. Side by side, they started a simple dinner of pasta and salad.
As Cora stood at the island slicing the crisp veggies, Stig noticed she rolled her shoulders and made an annoyed face. Had she hurt herself out in the workshop? Some of those pieces of wood were bulky and difficult to maneuver. “You pull something?”
She shook her head. “I think it’s the tag in my T-shirt. Sometimes they irritate my skin.” Cora reached back and tried to scratch the offending area. “It itches something fierce.”
“Let me see.” Stig put down his slotted spoon and crossed to her side. She presented her back for his inspection. He lifted the thin cotton tee out of the way for a better look.
The bottom dropped out of his stomach. His mouth went dry and his head spun. He blinked a few times to try to reconcile what was right there in front of his eyes.
Scales. Bright orange with black edges formed a diamond-shaped pattern between her shoulder blades.
Cora was actually growing scales.
“What’s wrong?” Trepidation colored her voice. Had she sensed his fear? Had she experienced the quiver of panic piercing his belly? With the uncertainty of the depth of the bond they’d forged last night, he couldn’t be sure. Had she been a dragon, she’d feel everything he felt but she wasn’t a dragon.
At least not yet.
There was no other way to say it. “You’re growing scales, Cora.”
Chapter Six
WHAT?” The knife fell from her hand and clattered onto the butcher block. Cora tried to touch her back but couldn’t get her fingers into the right position. She silently cursed her decision to give up on yoga all those years ago. Flexibility would have been a plus right about now.
Desperate to see the scales, she rushed out of the kitchen and took the stairs two at a time, using the banister for balance. She skidded into the bathroom and ripped off her shirt. Craning her neck to see over her shoulder, Cora screamed at the horror reflected in the mirror.
Large, orange, diamond-shaped scales looked to be spreading across her shoulder. The skin surrounding the scaly patch was red and irritated. How long before her entire back was covered in the leathery hide?
“Calm down.” Stig’s voice carried his fear and uncertainty even as he tried to help her.
“Calm down?” Cora shrieked in panic. “There’s no calming down, Stig. I am freaking the fuck out right now. I have scales on my back!”
He took a step forward and engulfed her in his embrace. She collapsed against his solid chest and held tight. His heart raced, the thumping pulse beating wildly against her ear. The fact that he was also scared terrified her.
“What’s happening to me, Stig?”
“I don’t know,” he reluctantly admitted. With a heavy sigh, he released her and put a little distance between them. He rubbed his face the way he did when he was upset and uncertain. “I never thought something like this would happen to you. Had I known, I never would have let you stay last night.”
Cora’s thoughts shifted to the prior evening. She remembered his discomfort at her presence and the way he kept trying to get her to leave. She’d flirted with danger and this was the consequence.
“It never crossed my mind that mating with a mortal woman during the phase would cause her to change.” Worry lines creased his face. He grimaced and kneaded his temples. “God, Cora, I am so sorry.”
Her stomach knotted and her worst fear took hold. “Am I going to die?”
Her voice was barely a whisper but it got Stig’s attention. “No!” He rushed to haul her close again. “You’re not going to die but you’re going to change. It’s happened to clavigers throughout the ages. They start to show dragon signs during a mating watch and eventually make the transformation.” He grew quiet for a moment. “It never occurred to me they made the change because of love.”
Soon she’d sprout wings, a tail, and talons to go with the scales. What would happen to her old life? Would she live forever? What if something happened to Stig? She’d seen the scars on his body. The work he did with the Brotherhood was dangerous. What if he was killed by one of those Knights? The idea of facing an eternity as a dragon without Stig at her side sent her into a panic.
Her mind raced with questions. She loved Stig, of that she was absolutely sure, but the thought of becoming a dragon terrified her. What else would happen to her body? If she became immortal, would she lose the ability to have children? Her heart sank at the thought. She’d always wanted to have lots and lots of chubby little babies.
And no doubt she’d be forced to leave behind her friends. She’d seen Stig’s mementos. All those different places and different faces. He never stayed anyplace very long. She supposed people became suspicious when he failed to age. The same would happen to her.
Panic took an even stronger hold. She fought to breathe. Her throat tightened. Sweat poured from her skin. She couldn’t see straight.
“Cora!” Stig took hold of her shoulders and gave her a firm shake.
Through teary eyes, she met his pained gaze. She gulped and shook her head. “I don’t think I can do this.”
His expression crumpled into one of agony and sadness. Her heart broke at the sight. She wanted to say everything was going to be okay, that becoming a dragon was just fabulous, but she couldn’t lie to Stig, especially about something this important.
“I’m not ready for eternity, Stig.” She spoke so softly the words barely registered in her own ears. By the way Stig’s jaw clenched, Cora knew he’d heard her very clearly.
“Then you need to go. Now.” There was no anger or hostility in his voice. It was even and almost void of emotion. “I’ll make the change soon and you can’t be here. My dragon will never let you leave. Go to the hotel in town. I’ll send someone for you, someone who can help you with this.”
Cora’s stomach lurched. This was it. It was all over.
She swallowed hard and nodded. “All right.”
There was no time to pack. The sun already dipped along the horizon. Cora threw some things into her backpack and grabbed her purse. She couldn’t meet Stig’s wounded gaze as she passed him in the hallway. His familiar scent ignited something so primal in her core. She fought the urge to throw down her things and launch herself at him.
Walking out of the house was one of the hardest things she’d ever done, almost as hard as burying her brother and grandmother within weeks of one another. She tossed her things into the backseat of her car and then lingered behind her open driver’s side door. Her gaze moved to Stig, who stood on the porch, arms crossed, face hard as stone. She desperately wanted to feel the warmth of his embrace one last time but she couldn’t tempt fate. If he held her again, she might never leave his side.
With a gut-wrenching sob, Cora slid into the driver’s seat and slammed her door. She turned the ignition and buckled her seat belt. By the time she looked up, Stig had already disappeared into his house. He was probably running down the basement stairs as she backed out of the driveway and headed for the main road. The thought of Stig spending yet another night alone in the cold, dank cell made her positively sick.
Cora stomped the gas. She had to put as much distance between Stig and herself as quickly as possible. The knowledge she’d hurt Stig soured her belly. The guilt and shame were almost too much to bear. That she’d allowed fear to rule her actions was disheartening.
The longer Cora drove, the more she regretted her decision. She desperately loved Stig, loved him so much it hurt. Yet what was she doing? She was racing at breakneck speed away from the man who had given her the security for which she’d yearned for so long.
She spotted a highway sign. She was halfway to town. The prospect of spending a night alone in a hotel made her feel so empty. She wanted to be with Stig. She needed to be with him.
“What the fuck am I doing?” Cora’s foot lifted off the gas pedal. The car slowed a bit as she realized the full ramifications of her choices. If she kept driving, if she spent the night in town, the bond she shared with Stig would shatter. There would be no second chance.
She hit the brakes and brought the car down to a manageable speed. She checked her rearview mirror and the road ahead before whipping a U-turn. Her foot depressed the accelerator and she raced to meet highway speed again. She had to get to Stig.
Would he take her back? Her heart fell at the thought he might not want her anymore. She’d betrayed his trust and love. He’d told her his darkest secret. He’d been willing to go against the Brotherhood to have her, his human lover, and she’d stomped on his heart because she’d sprouted a few scales.
Cora wiped her wet cheeks and sniffed loudly. If Stig turned her away, she’d die. Deep down inside, she knew without a doubt their bond was special. When she’d touched him, when she’d turned him into something awesome and exceptional, they’d created a unique bond. Cora could only speculate as to the depths of the mating bond between dragons. She sensed Stig didn’t truly understand it either but instinct told her it was powerful.
The sight of headlights in the rearview mirror startled her. This wasn’t a busy road, so the beams took her by surprise. After the initial sighting, she didn’t pay them much attention until they seemed to be getting closer and closer, faster and faster.
Cora’s eyebrows drew together. Why was that SUV driving so fast? She considered pulling onto the shoulder to let it pass but it was already dark and she feared hitting a deer. At any rate, the shoulder was incredibly narrow and there was a short bridge up ahead. It would be far too dangerous to attempt.
She gripped the steering wheel as the speeding SUV drew incredibly close. She expected a turn signal to pop on any second to alert her to the car’s intention to pass but it never came. The SUV got closer and then, without warning, slammed into the back of her car.
Cora let loose a string of expletives as her body lurched forward and snapped back. She barely kept her car on the road. Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel. Adrenaline spilled into her bloodstream, igniting her fight-or-flight response. It took her a millisecond to realize what was happening.
The men who held her brother’s debts and burned down her bakery had caught up with her.
Fear struck her heart. Cora floored the gas but it was no use. The SUV revved up again and crashed into her bumper. Her head flung forward and almost whacked the steering wheel. The seat belt tightened and snapped her back again. Her neck stung painfully from the wild movement. She managed to straighten the wheel and keep her car in its lane.
Could she do it again? Cora sincerely doubted it.
There was no time to think. The SUV clipped the side of her car and sent her spinning. She hit the brakes but it was no use. Everything happened so fast. She couldn’t see a damn thing. She spun out of control before slamming into something. A guardrail? She couldn’t be sure. Whatever it was, the impact launched her car into the air.
Cora shrieked and held tight to the wheel. Suddenly she was upside down. The backpack in the backseat flew forward and whacked her headrest. The contents of her purse exploded and splattered her face. Makeup, a cell phone, her wallet, emergency tampons—they were like confetti in the front seat.
And then the car smashed into the ground. It rolled down some kind of embankment. Glass shattered in her face. Metal crunched. There was intense pressure along her left arm and leg.
Then everything stopped. The seat belt snapped tight against her body and cut into her neck. Cora dangled upside down in her seat. Excruciating pain ripped through her arm and thigh. It was so dark she couldn’t see what had happened to her limbs. Had they been broken by the rolling? Probably.
Cora tried to release her seat belt with her good hand but it wouldn’t let loose. She was stuck and fading fast. Her head throbbed fiercely. Unconsciousness was only seconds away.
And there were shouting voices drawing close.
* * *
Chained in his cell, Stig experienced a roller coaster of emotions. He switched from a sensation of utter despondence to self-loathing and then pure fear. His dragon body vibrated with panic. It took him a moment to realize the wild emotions weren’t his own. They belonged to Cora.
And she was terrified.
He closed his eyes and embraced the alien feelings coursing through him. Their burgeoning mate bond transmitted her emotions straight to him. There was no doubt. Cora was in extreme danger.
Stig cried out as searing pain tore through his arm and leg. Cora was hurt and afraid. Something had happened to her. A car accident? Or something worse.
As he tugged at his restraining chains, Cora’s problems with the debts and the drug running burst to the forefront of his mind. They’d been so wrapped up in the newness of their love and overwhelming lust that her problems had completely escaped him. Disgusted with himself, Stig jerked on the chains again. Even in his dragon form, he couldn’t muster the strength to bust them.
Cora’s questions about his lack of claviger sprang to mind. She’d asked about his backup plans. Talk about prophetic…
His inner beast still considered Cora his one and only mate. Stig’s human mind tried to deny her but it was impossible. She’d walked out on him and yet he still loved her. No matter how far Cora ran, they were two halves of a whole. He’d die for her. In this, his beast was in complete agreement.
Stig snorted violently. His wings ached for release. He had to get free of his bonds. He had to save Cora.
Without a second thought, Stig called forth his fire-breathing ability and torched the chain attached to his left wrist. They superheate
d in an instant and scalded his leathery skin. The hide blistered around his wrist. He bit back against the pain. It was a small price to pay for Cora’s life.
By the time he reached the final chain, Stig’s limbs ached painfully. He didn’t want to think about how long it would take for the wounds to heal. He hoped they wouldn’t prove a vulnerability if he had to fight.
Finally, the last chain snapped free. The hot cuffs still burned his skin. A few links dangled from them like some kind of bizarre jewelry. Stig sucked in a cooling breath. As his lungs inflated, the acrid smoke cleared his nasal passages and throat. The taste would linger in his mouth for hours.
Stig raced upstairs, knocking his wings and tail on the staircase and ceiling. He crashed through his kitchen and living room. Whatever was broken could be replaced or fixed. He didn’t even bother with the front door. He turned his face and slammed into it. Wood and glass splintered in all directions.
He ran down the front steps and sprinted across the driveway. With a flex of his shoulders, Stig’s wings burst forth. They immediately caught the wind. As he ran, Stig flapped his wings and in no time at all lifted from the ground. The cool night air whistled against his ears as he gained height and speed.
Zeroing in on the pulse of Cora’s fear, Stig altered his course. The longer he was in the air, the fainter Cora’s radiating emotions felt. It stirred a primal fear in him. Was she dying?
The thought made him sick. He flapped faster, pulling his body tight and aerodynamic. Shaving off a few seconds of flight time could mean the difference between Cora’s life or her death. The glow of headlights came into view. He dropped altitude and swerved toward what looked to be a parked SUV. His hawklike gaze zeroed in on another set of beams pointing at an awkward angle.
Cora’s car was upside down in a ditch.
There were two men standing outside the car. One of them had something thrown over his shoulder—a body, Cora’s body.
Enraged, Stig rocketed toward the ground. The sound of his incoming landing ripped through the stillness of the night. There would be no stealth in his attack. Head down, he embraced his primal side and unleashed his inner beast with a terrible shriek.
